Lee Brice, Rob Hatch Form Pump House Records
Pump House Records team breaks between recording sessions at Southern Ground Studios, Nashville. Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Kristi Hutchins, Derek Hutchins, Nick Norman, Rob Hatch, Elisha Hoffman. (Photo by Chase Lauer)
Lee Brice and songwriter Rob Hatch are joining forces to open a new artist development collective, Pump House Records. The company offers A&R, promotion and other label services. Years after co-writing the No. 1 hit “I Don’t Dance” together, the two entrepreneurially-minded artists are collaborating the artist “launch pad,” founded by Brice, Hatch, producer/engineer/songwriter Elisha Hoffman, and veteran business leaders Derek and Kristi Hutchins.
The name is a nod to the pump house behind his family church-turned makeshift recording studio where Brice first began making music.
“We are all, and have been, artists and have seen that side of the relationship between label, publisher and artist,” Brice says in a statement to MusicRow. “So I guess it’s natural in our hearts to want the best for the artist, what the artist really wants, and how the artist really feels. It’s just important to us.”
The company’s first project will be a new album by singer/songwriter Nick Norman, due out later this year. Recorded at Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, the project was produced by Brice, Hatch, and Hoffman, and is just the latest collaboration between Norman and Brice, who practically grew up together and have been making music together for decades.
“We all love making music…creating…working in the music business,” Brice adds. “But the bottom line is Nick is someone we all believe in, so the idea of all working together to let the world hear Nick just seemed like something we all just really wanted to dive into.”
“It is just a collection of talented friends from different parts of the music business working together to help create the best Nick Norman record we possibly can,” says Hatch, whose handful of No. 1 hits include Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and Randy Houser’s “Goodnight Kiss.” “We’re looking forward to sharing his music, and the music of other great artists we believe in, in the coming months and years.”
Hatch adds, “It was basically a result of being super impressed with Nick, his voice, songwriting and point of view. He’s a true American original and it would be a shame for the world not to get to hear him and his music.”
As a songwriter, Brice has co-written hits including Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory” and Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” and as an artist has notched several hits including “I Drive Your Truck,” “A Woman Like You,” and his latest, “Rumor.” He is currently on the radio as part of “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce.
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